Regulation

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February 12, 2015

In a speech last month, Governor Greg Abbott said his state was becoming more like California because cities are banning things like fracking or the cutting down of trees. The Texas Legislature may soon debate passing laws to stop those local initiatives. But is that so new? When Governor Abbott expressed dismay at what city governments [...]

Using an approach outlined in the EPA’s new report on manmade earthquakes, the team used data on the volume of fluid being injected into the wells and the rate of injection.

January 8, 2015

Lawsuit Filed in Washington Hits Home With Houston’s Biggest Industry According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the biggest source of air pollution in Texas are oil and gas wells, emitting far more pollution than petrochemical plants or refineries. Yet, federal law exempts those drilling operations from having to report all their chemical releases to [...]

December 12, 2014

Accidents at facilities that handle dangerous chemicals in Texas were at the center of a hearing in Washington. Accidents at facilities that handle dangerous chemicals in Texas were at the center of a hearing in Washington. Some senators are pressing for quick action to reduce the risk of deadly chemical leaks and explosions. They wanted to [...]

December 9, 2014

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says the industry it oversees is experiencing a safety crisis. The board investigates industrial accidents. It says recent deadly explosions and chemical leaks in Texas make a strong case for action. It’s been a tragic couple of years for some people who work around dangerous chemicals in Texas. “Fertilizer plant [...]

November 18, 2014

The clean energy plan put forth by the Environmental Protection Agency aims to combat climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by power plants. But it may come at a price, according to a report released Monday by theElectric Reliability Council of Texas, the group that manages much of Texas electric grid. The report says electricity [...]

November 12, 2014

The deal that the U.S. and China have struck to curb carbon emissions has been hailed as a breakthrough by many concerned with climate change, and panned by politicians opposed to President Obama. But it’s also captured the interest of a group of researchers — some in Texas — who specialize in carbon capture and [...]

November 6, 2014

This week Denton, Texas became the first city in the state to ban fracking within its city limits. The ban passed with nearly 59 percent of the vote. Many in Denton worry about how fracking and associated activities impact their health and quality of life. But opponents say the ban is bad for the economy. The drilling industry, which [...]

Denton might very well become a “test case” for other Texas towns that want to abolish fracking.

November 4, 2014

Update: Ryan Sitton has won the race for the empty east on the Railroad Commission of Texas. An empty seat on a strangely-named state regulatory agency usually flies under the radar of voters. But the race to serve on the Railroad Commission of Texas has gained additional attention and importance this election. That’s because whoever wins [...]